Holder for oxygen producing canister

ABSTRACT

A receptacle is open at its bottom in order to receive an oxygen producing canister. A bail is disposed below the receptacle and has end portions extending upwardly along its opposite sides. The ends of the bail are pivotally connected to the receptacle to permit the bail to be swung backward out of the way of a canister that is being inserted up into or removed from the receptacle and to permit the bail to then be swung forward beneath a canister to support it in a standby position. There are means for guiding the ends of the bail upwardly along the sides of the receptacle. A handle straddles the receptacle and has a front portion extending across its lower part, the ends of the handle being pivoted to the receptacle above the bail. Links are pivotally connected to the handle and to the bail for lifting the bail when the handle is swung upwardly in order to raise a canister resting on the bail to operating position.

(|51 3,675,296 [451 July 11, 1972 United States Patent ISE RODUCING Pn'mary Examiner-Thomas H. Eagr Anomey`rown, Mun'ay, Flick & Peckham [54] HOLDER FOR OXYGEN P CANISTER 8Clalns,6Dnwingl1gures I I I I I I I I I I I PTNTDJUL 11 me 3. 675.296

SHEET u nr a ATTORNEYS.

HOLDER FOR OXYGEN PRODUCING CANISTER There is a type of oxygen breathing apparatus that includes a valve having a sharp member at its lower end for piercing the seal in the neck of an oxygen generating canister that is movable vertically in a receptacle below the valve. To keep the breathing apparatus ready for use in an emergency, it is desirable to retain an unused canister in a standby position, from which it can be made operational rapidly. lt also is desirable to be able to quickly replace an expended canister in a simple manner.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide oxygen breathing apparatus in which canisters can be quickly changed, in which an unused canister can be held safely in a standby position until needed, in which the standby canister cannot accidentally be moved into operating position, and in which the standby canister can be quickly moved into operating position when desired by a simple motion of a handle.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. l is a front view, with parts broken away, of the canister holder with a canister in standby position;

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a canister in standby position;

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the canister in operating position;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the holder with the valve removed;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view; and

FIG. 6 is a side view of the holder ready to receive a canister.

Referring to the drawings, an upright receptacle for an oxygen generating canister includes a sleeve-like housing l open at top and bottom, with its back formed by a curved breast plate 2 that can be strapped in a well known manner against the chest of a person using breathing apparatus. Extending back across the top of the housing from its front to the top of the breast plate is a pair of laterally spaced metal bars 3 that support a slide valve 4. This valve has an upper inlet 5 adapted to be connected to the exhalation tube of a mask, and a side outlet 6 for connection to a breathing bag. Projecting from the bottom ofthe valve is a tubular member 7 provided with a perforated point for piercing the conventional seal in the neck 8 of an oxygen generating canister 9 when the canister is pushed up against the point. Such a canister is inserted by hand in the open bottom of the receptacle and is moved upwardly a few inches, after which it is moved the rest of the way by a lifting mechanism.

The lifting mechanism for a canister includes a bail ll. The bail has a straight bottom portion with upwardly extending end portions, the upper ends of which are pivotally connected to flat brackets l2 secured to the opposite sides of the housing. The bail pivots 13 extend inwardly through vertical slots I4 in the two brackets. This pivotal connection permits the bottom of the bail to be swung rearwardly out of the way as shown in FIG. 6, so that a canister can be inserted straight up into the receptacle without interference from the bail. After the canister has cleared the bottom of the bail, the latter is swung forward to upright position again. Mounted on top of the bottom of the bail is an upwardly tapered strip 16 as shown in FIG. l, on top of which there is a block I7 provided with an upwardly opening notch I8 to receive the bead along the back of the bottom of the canister. This helps to hold the bail in its vertical position and supports the canister in standby position with its upper end spaced from the piercing point of the valve at the top of the receptacle.

To prevent the canister from accidentally being pushed up far enough for its seal to be penetrated by the piercing point, the top of the canister engages a stop 20 that is hinged to the back of the housing near its top. This stop is provided with 1ongitudinally extending parallel slots, through which a pair of upright rods 2l extend. The rods extend down through the housing and their lower ends are hooked through openings in the bottom of the bail. 'Their upper ends above the stop are encircled by coil springs 22 that engage the top of the stop. The springs prevent the canister stop from being swung upwardly to any extent as long as the bail is in its lower position.

Pivoted to the upper ends of brackets l2 by means of pivots 24 are the rear ends of a U-shape handle 25 that extends forward and down in front of the holder. The handle is locked in its lo'wermost position, as shown in FIG. 2, by a slotted latch 26 that is pivoted to the center of the handle and that receives in its slot a lug 27 secured to the front of the receptacle hous ing. Pivotally connected by a pivot 28 to each side ofthe handle near the front of the receptacle is the upper end of a link 29. The lower end of the link is connected by a pivot 30 to the corresponding side of the bail below its pivot I3Y The lower link pivot extends through the lower end of the vertical slot 14, which has a rearward extension 3l that receives the pivot when the bail is swung backward.

When the handle is unlatched and swung upwardly to its upper position, it lifts links 29 and they in turn raise the bail in the bracket slots as shown in FIG. 3. Upward movement of the bail forces the canister upward in the receptacle and causes its seal to be pierced by the point of the slide valve. This upward movement of the canister is not obstructed by stop 20 because rods 2l rise with the bail and thereby permit the canister to swing the hinged stop upwardly. The handle is locked in this upper position by moving its latch down over a lug 33 projecting from the top of the housing.

With this canister holder, a sealed canister can be stored and carried in standby position and then, when needed, can be quickly moved up into operating position by simply swinging the handle up to its upper position and latching it there. When the handle is swung down again, the canister will be pushed down by stop 20 and can be removed from the bottom of the receptacle after swinging the bail backward out of the way,

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

I. A holder for an oxygen producing canister, comprising a receptacle open at its bottom to receive a canister and having a front and a back, a bail disposed below said receptacle and having end portions extending upwardly along opposite sides thereof, vertically movable means pivotally connecting the ends of the bail to the receptacle to permit the bail to be swung backward out of the way of a canister being inserted up into the receptacle and then swung forward beneath the canister to support it in a standby position, the receptacle including guide members extending vertically along its opposite sides and engaging and guiding said bail-pivoting means upwardly along the sides of the receptacle, a handle straddling the receptacle and having a front portion extending across the lower part of the receptacle, means pivoting the ends of the handle to the receptacle above the bail, links, and means pivotally connecting the links to the handle and to the bail for lifting the bail when die handle is swung upwardly, whereby to raise a canister resting on the bail to operating position.

2. A canister holder according to claim l, including a pivoted latch on said front portion of the handle, and catches mounted on the upper and lower parts of said receptacle for detachable engagement by said latch to lock the handle selectively in upper and lower positions.

3. A canister holder according to claim I, in which said guide members include vertical slots, and said bail-pivoting means project into said slots and are slidable up and down therein.

4. A canister holder according to claim 3, in which said slots are provided with rearward extensions at their lower ends, and said means that pivotally connect the links to the bail project into said slots below said bail-pivoting means and are movable backward into said extensions as the bail is swung backward.

5. A canister holder according to claim 3, in which said receptacle includes a housing and brackets secured to opposite sides ofthe housing, and said slots are in said brackets.

6. A canister holder according to claim l, including a movable stop in the upper part of said receptacle, and means connectng the stop with the bail and holding the stop in a position to be engaged by the top of a canister in standby position while the bail is in its lower position.

7. A canister holder according to claim l, including a stop in the upper par! of said receptacle pivoted on a horizontal axis, and means connecting the stop with the bail to hold the stop in a position for engagement by the top of a canister in standby mounted on the rod above said stop and pressing downward on the stop.

Ik Il lh t 

1. A holder for an oxygen producing canister, comprising a receptacle open at its bottom to receive a canister and having a frOnt and a back, a bail disposed below said receptacle and having end portions extending upwardly along opposite sides thereof, vertically movable means pivotally connecting the ends of the bail to the receptacle to permit the bail to be swung backward out of the way of a canister being inserted up into the receptacle and then swung forward beneath the canister to support it in a standby position, the receptacle including guide members extending vertically along its opposite sides and engaging and guiding said bail-pivoting means upwardly along the sides of the receptacle, a handle straddling the receptacle and having a front portion extending across the lower part of the receptacle, means pivoting the ends of the handle to the receptacle above the bail, links, and means pivotally connecting the links to the handle and to the bail for lifting the bail when the handle is swung upwardly, whereby to raise a canister resting on the bail to operating position.
 2. A canister holder according to claim 1, including a pivoted latch on said front portion of the handle, and catches mounted on the upper and lower parts of said receptacle for detachable engagement by said latch to lock the handle selectively in upper and lower positions.
 3. A canister holder according to claim 1, in which said guide members include vertical slots, and said bail-pivoting means project into said slots and are slidable up and down therein.
 4. A canister holder according to claim 3, in which said slots are provided with rearward extensions at their lower ends, and said means that pivotally connect the links to the bail project into said slots below said bail-pivoting means and are movable backward into said extensions as the bail is swung backward.
 5. A canister holder according to claim 3, in which said receptacle includes a housing and brackets secured to opposite sides of the housing, and said slots are in said brackets.
 6. A canister holder according to claim 1, including a movable stop in the upper part of said receptacle, and means connecting the stop with the bail and holding the stop in a position to be engaged by the top of a canister in standby position while the bail is in its lower position.
 7. A canister holder according to claim 1, including a stop in the upper part of said receptacle pivoted on a horizontal axis, and means connecting the stop with the bail to hold the stop in a position for engagement by the top of a canister in standby position, the stop being adapted to be swung upward by the canister when said stop-connecting means is raised with the bail.
 8. A canister holder according to claim 7, in which said stop-connecting means includes a rod and a coil spring mounted on the rod above said stop and pressing downward on the stop. 